Gutters play an integral role in your roofing system. They collect rainwater and melting snow, allowing it to drain through the connecting downspouts and away from your home instead of backing up underneath shingles and causing water damage. With the right care, this roofing component also prevents rainwater from pooling around your home’s foundation and leaking into your basement. Since keeping gutters clean and clog-free is essential to their function, it’s necessary to know how often you should schedule cleaning services with your local handyman.

A Guide to Gutter Cleaning

Fall & Spring Cleanings

Get your gutters cleaned by a professional handyman at least twice a year, usually in the fall and spring. Fall cleaning prevents leaves, twigs, and other debris from building up in the gutters and creating serious clogs before winter. Clogged gutters cause roofing and basement leaks that can easily result in ceiling and wall stains, structural damage, wood rot, and mold or mildew growth. They also attract insects and vermin, and can even cause foundation cracks if enough water collects around the base of your home.

Your gutters also require cleaning in the spring to remove debris that became trapped during the winter and to check for ice patches that cause the metal components to weaken with rust. Springtime cleaning also eliminates falling seed pods from maple trees and other woody perennials.

Factors Contributing To Additional Cleanings

While fall and spring cleanings typically suffice, you may require gutter services from your local handyman three or four times a year, depending on your location. If you live in a heavily wooded area, you’ll need cleanings four or more times a year to keep the gutters clog-free. If your property features mature trees that shed more, such as oak and pine trees, you’ll need four cleanings even if the area is otherwise sparse in towering perennials.

Schedule cleanings in the early summer and early winter, in addition to fall and spring cleanups, to keep your gutters operational if either or both of these factors apply to you. It’s also a good idea to consider gutter guards to limit the amount of debris entering your gutter system. These additions are placed over your gutters and prevent solid debris from entering the channel while still allowing water and other liquids to flow through.
 

Request gutter cleaning with LaPlace and Eagan in Deep River, CT, as part of your regular home maintenance. This third-generation painting, window cleaning, power washing, and handyman service has provided home and business improvements since 1910, all while maintaining a high standard of excellence. Call (860) 526-5429 today to make an appointment or learn more about their handyman services online. Get additional home improvement ideas on Facebook.